Deja Shyamalan
August/2004: Movies - A few years ago, I saw a great movie that received a maddening response. That movie was Unbreakable. I decided from the point of seeing that movie and hearing criticism of it, that I would judge people harshly by their opinion of that film. If they disliked the film, I'd look down upon them. If they loved the film, they would signify that they are pretty intelligent about movies, at least.
Unbreakable was a movie made by M. Night Shyamalan. M. Night is pretty much my favorite director currently making films. He is akin to Hitchcock in his ability to set up shots and establish a creepy, creepy tone... but is superior (Someone is going to bitch at me for that line) in that he has a greater subtext behind his moviemaking. The best part about his movies is that the meaning and philosophical point of the movie is usually left up to the movie-watcher to pluck from the film.
That is great for myself. I'm intelligent.
It's not so great for dullards who can't understand the philosophical point of a movie unless it's slapped in their face, Meg Ryan style.
I started judging people by their opinion of Unbreakable. It split pretty much the way I expected. Those whom I had previously regarded as intelligent liked the movie, as was expected. Those I regarded as unintelligent hated it. I started doing this due to a near-altercation I almost got into upon leaving the first theater-seeing of the film. This dullard and his likely-vacuous girlfriend were discussing the movie, with the dullard vociferiously decrying the lack of "action." I loudly corrected the slovenly sort outside of the theater, perhaps appearing insane to all afoot.
Reading the reviews of Unbreakable, I wondered how people could be so stupid as to not get the beauty, acting and point of that wonderfully crafted story. So many messages, just under the surface. It was a deeply intellectually touching film.
Now, in 2004, I'm experiencing "Deja Shyamalan." You perhaps do not know what "Deja Shyamalan" means, since I just made up the term. Let me define for you:
Deja Shyamalan: The experience of being confounded by the public's "deja vu" negative, sloppy reaction to great M. Night Shyamalan films.
Recently "The Village" was released. I heard people were hating on it, as they usually do with Shyamalan films. I go and see it. Again, this is the Unbreakable Conundrum. The Village is a spectacular movie. It's simply spectacular. There are so many bubbling discussion points lurking under the surface that to even list them all out would be an insult to the finely honed work of M. Night. I do not see how someone can see that film and dislike it. There is no intellectually justifiable rationale for disliking this movie.
It is superbly filmed, finely acted, and the screenplay is once again unique, original and nuanced. I was into this movie hook, line and sinker. Perhaps the problem is that people try to feel "smarter" by guessing the future happenings of a film. That doesn't make you intelligent. When you're sitting there going "I knew that would happen!", you reveal yourself to be a slimey dullard of the highest magnitude. It doesn't matter if you know what is going to happen. I can go to any Meg Ryan film (outside of City of Angels) and go "I know what is going to happen!" It's easy. If I were to criticize "You've Got Mail" because it was FUCKING OBVIOUS that they'd hook up... I'd be an asshole. A huge asshole. That is not what a movie should be judged upon. To lambaste the Village because people claim to have "seen it coming", is ridiculous. The measure of this movie isn't in whether or not some blowhard thinks they "knew what was going to happen" but what did happen. This is a similar criticism of years ago, but fat-headed movietards whom viewed Unbreakable and "knew" the ending. Wow, a cookie is for you!
The Village is a work of measured emotion. It is a film. Not a "flick." Anyone going to this movie expecting a "horror movie" simply is movie-ignorant. Shyamalan would not do a "straight" horror movie. He'll make a creepy movie (and the village is creepy) but he will never succumb to the brainless unwashed masses and create "The House of the Dead." This is a man, not a hack. That isn't a bash on movies like "The House of the Dead." It's not even a real comparison. Shyamalan makes "films" not "flicks." Comparing anything done by a horror director to Shyamalan is like comparing Cotton Candy to Steak. Nobody eats Steak and goes "Man, this isn't cotton candy! I expected cotton candy!" Learn to read the movie menu. You went to a high-class restaurant and expected steak to be cotton candy. That makes you stupid, not the movie.
I'd write more about why the movie is good, but I don't really want to launch spoilers upon you guys. Instead, I'm going to pimp Erika out (Not literally, as none of you have the cash amounts that one would have to charge for such a stellar person) with her excellent blogger reviews if you want more detail about the movie: Click for Erika's Movie Review Page.
The point of my writing is simply to decry the public and this "Deja Shyamalan" bullshit that pops up everytime he makes a movie. Just make a deal with me: If you didn't like Unbreakable, or the Village, don't go see another M. Night movie. He doesn't need your attendance. You don't deserve to attend his movies. They are not for you, you are not a good enough person to deserve such fine fuckin' filmmaking. Go watch "Superbabies 2: Baby Geniuses" or "Anacondas"... maybe go hit up "Farhenbullshit 9/11" or Yu-Gi-Oh! For Night's movies are not made for you... they are made for people like me, individuals with the ability to pick out points and messages that are not slap-dashed across the screen in an Ad Populum attempt to sell tickets to living, breathing, primates.
I do hope M. Night is confident and intelligent enough not to listen to the craven bullshit criticisms of the general public, for they know not proper moviemaking. It would be a tragedy if one of his ability were to dumb himself down to the Lowest Common Denominator just because the American public appreciates a piece of trash like "Eurotrip" more than works of art, beauty and subtlety.
Go die.
Unbreakable was a movie made by M. Night Shyamalan. M. Night is pretty much my favorite director currently making films. He is akin to Hitchcock in his ability to set up shots and establish a creepy, creepy tone... but is superior (Someone is going to bitch at me for that line) in that he has a greater subtext behind his moviemaking. The best part about his movies is that the meaning and philosophical point of the movie is usually left up to the movie-watcher to pluck from the film.
That is great for myself. I'm intelligent.
It's not so great for dullards who can't understand the philosophical point of a movie unless it's slapped in their face, Meg Ryan style.
I started judging people by their opinion of Unbreakable. It split pretty much the way I expected. Those whom I had previously regarded as intelligent liked the movie, as was expected. Those I regarded as unintelligent hated it. I started doing this due to a near-altercation I almost got into upon leaving the first theater-seeing of the film. This dullard and his likely-vacuous girlfriend were discussing the movie, with the dullard vociferiously decrying the lack of "action." I loudly corrected the slovenly sort outside of the theater, perhaps appearing insane to all afoot.
Reading the reviews of Unbreakable, I wondered how people could be so stupid as to not get the beauty, acting and point of that wonderfully crafted story. So many messages, just under the surface. It was a deeply intellectually touching film.
Now, in 2004, I'm experiencing "Deja Shyamalan." You perhaps do not know what "Deja Shyamalan" means, since I just made up the term. Let me define for you:
Deja Shyamalan: The experience of being confounded by the public's "deja vu" negative, sloppy reaction to great M. Night Shyamalan films.
Recently "The Village" was released. I heard people were hating on it, as they usually do with Shyamalan films. I go and see it. Again, this is the Unbreakable Conundrum. The Village is a spectacular movie. It's simply spectacular. There are so many bubbling discussion points lurking under the surface that to even list them all out would be an insult to the finely honed work of M. Night. I do not see how someone can see that film and dislike it. There is no intellectually justifiable rationale for disliking this movie.
It is superbly filmed, finely acted, and the screenplay is once again unique, original and nuanced. I was into this movie hook, line and sinker. Perhaps the problem is that people try to feel "smarter" by guessing the future happenings of a film. That doesn't make you intelligent. When you're sitting there going "I knew that would happen!", you reveal yourself to be a slimey dullard of the highest magnitude. It doesn't matter if you know what is going to happen. I can go to any Meg Ryan film (outside of City of Angels) and go "I know what is going to happen!" It's easy. If I were to criticize "You've Got Mail" because it was FUCKING OBVIOUS that they'd hook up... I'd be an asshole. A huge asshole. That is not what a movie should be judged upon. To lambaste the Village because people claim to have "seen it coming", is ridiculous. The measure of this movie isn't in whether or not some blowhard thinks they "knew what was going to happen" but what did happen. This is a similar criticism of years ago, but fat-headed movietards whom viewed Unbreakable and "knew" the ending. Wow, a cookie is for you!
The Village is a work of measured emotion. It is a film. Not a "flick." Anyone going to this movie expecting a "horror movie" simply is movie-ignorant. Shyamalan would not do a "straight" horror movie. He'll make a creepy movie (and the village is creepy) but he will never succumb to the brainless unwashed masses and create "The House of the Dead." This is a man, not a hack. That isn't a bash on movies like "The House of the Dead." It's not even a real comparison. Shyamalan makes "films" not "flicks." Comparing anything done by a horror director to Shyamalan is like comparing Cotton Candy to Steak. Nobody eats Steak and goes "Man, this isn't cotton candy! I expected cotton candy!" Learn to read the movie menu. You went to a high-class restaurant and expected steak to be cotton candy. That makes you stupid, not the movie.
I'd write more about why the movie is good, but I don't really want to launch spoilers upon you guys. Instead, I'm going to pimp Erika out (Not literally, as none of you have the cash amounts that one would have to charge for such a stellar person) with her excellent blogger reviews if you want more detail about the movie: Click for Erika's Movie Review Page.
The point of my writing is simply to decry the public and this "Deja Shyamalan" bullshit that pops up everytime he makes a movie. Just make a deal with me: If you didn't like Unbreakable, or the Village, don't go see another M. Night movie. He doesn't need your attendance. You don't deserve to attend his movies. They are not for you, you are not a good enough person to deserve such fine fuckin' filmmaking. Go watch "Superbabies 2: Baby Geniuses" or "Anacondas"... maybe go hit up "Farhenbullshit 9/11" or Yu-Gi-Oh! For Night's movies are not made for you... they are made for people like me, individuals with the ability to pick out points and messages that are not slap-dashed across the screen in an Ad Populum attempt to sell tickets to living, breathing, primates.
I do hope M. Night is confident and intelligent enough not to listen to the craven bullshit criticisms of the general public, for they know not proper moviemaking. It would be a tragedy if one of his ability were to dumb himself down to the Lowest Common Denominator just because the American public appreciates a piece of trash like "Eurotrip" more than works of art, beauty and subtlety.
Go die.
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How can they be so lazy, yet so pissed?
August/2004: Cats - Today I am having an issue with one of my cats. His name is Mr. Colby Jones. You may know him better as the cat in the following picture.
Yeah, he's a lazy fucker
He's very lazy, as you can tell. I also have another cat named Miss Moxie Jones. She wasn't very lazy, but following Colby's lead, has gotten quite lazy herself.
Yeah, she's a lazy fucker
Together, my cats combine to be very, very lazy. They sit around laying on each other all day, looking at me hoping I have turkey. For they really like turkey.
Yeah, they're lazy fuckers
Typically, I have no issue with their laziness. I'm pretty lazy, as I like to be online a lot. So we're kindred spirits. We sit around in chairs together. However, there is a deviation. It has to do with food dishes and their cat tree. A while ago, someone gave me this swank, great six foot high cat tree for my two cats. It has been a godsend.
This is the cattree I have for them. Yep, it's pinkish.
In the cat tree, as you can tell, I have placed food dishes. The first is in the middle, behind Moxie in the picture. The second is on the bottom floor. I fill both up with food so they can stay away from each other when they eat.
This is the one in the middle, upclose
This is the one in the bottom, upclose
You will notice that the cat bowl on the bottom, has no food in it. Yet, the one in the middle is filled with food. There's a very simple reason for this. My cats are very lazy. They walk up, and both converge on the bottom bowl. It's quite annoying. But what is much more annoying is what happens when that bottom bowl is empty.
I am lazy, my cats are lazy. I am stubborn, my cats are stubborn. When the bottom bowl gets empty, I refuse to refill it until they wipe out the middle bowl. Once they wipe out both bowls, I refill the food. This is not a proper protocol for my cats. What are normally very lazy creatures get upset when they no longer can be lazy. They don't like eating out of the middle bowl because they have to jump to the third platform to do so.
Nevermind the fact that they climb up and down the whole thing all day, that's not an issue for them. But when it comes to food... it's an issue. If the bottom is empty, they freak out and start causing me a headache. They climb to the top of the cat tree and yell. As if I don't already know what the issue is. They flip around on the top of the cat tree and glare at me. I know what the issue is. I know that they want the bottom bowl filled so they can just walk up and be lazy. This, I know. I could very easily fill that bottom bowl to shut them up.
But fuck that. Those two lazy bastards think they can make me do extra work? HELL NO. Not only am I more lazy, I'm more stubborn. So today, they will yell and be pissed off... but by the end of the night, that middle bowl will be empty. And they'll have expended a lot of energy protesting having to eat out of it for nothing.
And I will have once again won.
Just a reminder: Don't try to fight the man. It's pointless.
Yeah, he's a lazy fucker
He's very lazy, as you can tell. I also have another cat named Miss Moxie Jones. She wasn't very lazy, but following Colby's lead, has gotten quite lazy herself.
Yeah, she's a lazy fucker
Together, my cats combine to be very, very lazy. They sit around laying on each other all day, looking at me hoping I have turkey. For they really like turkey.
Yeah, they're lazy fuckers
Typically, I have no issue with their laziness. I'm pretty lazy, as I like to be online a lot. So we're kindred spirits. We sit around in chairs together. However, there is a deviation. It has to do with food dishes and their cat tree. A while ago, someone gave me this swank, great six foot high cat tree for my two cats. It has been a godsend.
This is the cattree I have for them. Yep, it's pinkish.
In the cat tree, as you can tell, I have placed food dishes. The first is in the middle, behind Moxie in the picture. The second is on the bottom floor. I fill both up with food so they can stay away from each other when they eat.
This is the one in the middle, upclose
This is the one in the bottom, upclose
You will notice that the cat bowl on the bottom, has no food in it. Yet, the one in the middle is filled with food. There's a very simple reason for this. My cats are very lazy. They walk up, and both converge on the bottom bowl. It's quite annoying. But what is much more annoying is what happens when that bottom bowl is empty.
I am lazy, my cats are lazy. I am stubborn, my cats are stubborn. When the bottom bowl gets empty, I refuse to refill it until they wipe out the middle bowl. Once they wipe out both bowls, I refill the food. This is not a proper protocol for my cats. What are normally very lazy creatures get upset when they no longer can be lazy. They don't like eating out of the middle bowl because they have to jump to the third platform to do so.
Nevermind the fact that they climb up and down the whole thing all day, that's not an issue for them. But when it comes to food... it's an issue. If the bottom is empty, they freak out and start causing me a headache. They climb to the top of the cat tree and yell. As if I don't already know what the issue is. They flip around on the top of the cat tree and glare at me. I know what the issue is. I know that they want the bottom bowl filled so they can just walk up and be lazy. This, I know. I could very easily fill that bottom bowl to shut them up.
But fuck that. Those two lazy bastards think they can make me do extra work? HELL NO. Not only am I more lazy, I'm more stubborn. So today, they will yell and be pissed off... but by the end of the night, that middle bowl will be empty. And they'll have expended a lot of energy protesting having to eat out of it for nothing.
And I will have once again won.
Just a reminder: Don't try to fight the man. It's pointless.
Shill whore time, kids.
August/2004: The Shill - I read this guy's blog for the first time because he was the lead cameraguy on the Portland GMB. I never read blogs. I kinda hate them, despite having one. But I always read LLR's blog. And you should too, at least for the following story:
http://www.littlelostrobot.com/2004/08/anatomy-of-bush-protest.html
That's just great. As an aside, if you go to Chili's, screw the cake... it's all about the Enchilada Soup. Muy Espanol Wordo!
http://www.littlelostrobot.com/2004/08/anatomy-of-bush-protest.html
That's just great. As an aside, if you go to Chili's, screw the cake... it's all about the Enchilada Soup. Muy Espanol Wordo!